Santa Barbara-Ventura-San Luis Obispo County CA Archives History - Books .....First Exporation, And Founding Of The Missions 1891
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Book Title: A Memorial And Biographical History Of The Counties Of Santa Barbara, Ventura, And San Luis Obispo

FIRST EXPLORATION, AND FOUNDING OF THE MISSIONS.

  It will be remembered that the Mission of San Diego was not yet formally
founded, when the commandant, Gaspar de Portola, zealous for the extension of
the territories to be dominated by the missions, set forth northward, to reach
Monterey Bay by a coast route. His party comprised sixty-four persons, who left
San Diego July 14, 1769.

  Just one month later they "crossed from a point near the mouth of the Santa
Clara to the shore farther north, where they found the largest Indian village
yet seen in California. The houses were of spherical form, thatched with straw,
and the natives used boats twenty-four feet long, made of pine boards tied
together with cords and covered with asphaltum, capable of carrying each ten
fishermen. A few old blades of knives and swords were seen. Some inhabitants of
the Channel Islands came across to gaze at the strangers. Previously the
inhabitants had bartered seeds, grass baskets and shells for the coveted glass
beads, but now fish and carved bits of wood were added to the limited list of
commercial products. Thus more food was offered than could be eaten. This fine
pueblo, the first of a long line of similar ones along the channel coast, was
called Asuncion, and was identical in site with the modern San Buenaventura."

  Proceeding on northward toward Monterey Bay in 1769, the route of PortoM and
his command, from the middle of August through the first week of September,
followed the coast of the Santa Barbara channel westward, through a dense
population of the natives, gathered into many large villages or ranche-rias.
These Indians showed unfailing hospitality. All along this way the Spaniards
remained in sight of the Channel Islands. On August 18 they came to a
settlement, which they called Laguna de la Concepcion, which was near the
present Santa Barbara, it being supposed that this city indeed occupies the
exact site of that aboriginal village. The Spaniards stayed not here, but
marched on northward, and here, as in San Buenaventura, the project of
settlement was left in abeyance for some years.

  Before returning to San Diego this expedition pushed northward to San
Francisco Bay. Of their passage through the district at present under
consideration, traces still survive, in the way of names applied by them then,
as La Gaviota, Los Osos and El Buchon.

  Although of the present group the most northern county was then the territory
most remote from San Diego, the first base of operations, it was nevertheless to
receive the attention of the Spaniards earlier than either Ventura or Santa
Barbara.

  The mission and presidio of San Carlos Borromeo de Monterey having been
founded in June, 1770, the colonists there found themselves, in May, 1772,
almost destitute of provisions, owing to the delay in arrival of the supply
vessels. Late in this month Captain Lages took thirteen men to the Canada de los
Osos (Gulch of the Bears), where they staid for three months hunting bears,
whose meat supplied the presidio and the mission until the arrival of the ships.

  When this succor at last came, the president, going southward, resolved that
on the way he would establish one of the new missions at this famous canada,
where there was abundance of game and good land. Accordingly, on September 1,
1772, Padre Junipero raised the cross and said mass, thus founding the Mission
of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, which he left in charge of Padre Cavaller, with
five soldiers and some Indians. The natives, no doubt gratefully bearing in mind
Pages' exploits among their ursine neighbors, were well disposed toward the
newcomers, whom they assisted by their labors, and by contributions of seeds to
the commissary. Perhaps the father, too, derived some solace and encouragement
from their readiness to accept the rite of baptism for their children.

  In Palou's report on the missions, forwarded to Mexico at the close of 1773,
San Luis Obispo is stated to have but twelve converts. "It is," so says the
report, "hard to attract the people here to the mission. The population is very
numerous, and of friendly disposition toward the missionaries; but as the
Indians, having plenty of deer, rabbits, fish and seeds, are better supplied
with food than are the Spaniards, they cannot be controlled by self-interest.
Moreover, as there is no rancheria close by, they do not stay in the vicinity of
the mission. The buildings here are somewhat less extensive than at some of the
other establishments, but there is plenty of fertile land, well wooded and well
watered, and there has been a small crop of beans and corn even this first
year." By 1780 San Luis had some 2,000 bushels surplus of maize.

    It was not until April, 1782, after the founding of the missions of San
Carlos, San Antonio, San Gabriel, San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano, and the
beginning of pueblos and presidios, that further measures were taken toward the
settlement of these districts. Then, indeed, there came up thither the largest
expedition as yet seen in California, comprising, besides the officers, seventy
soldiers and their families. Coming from San Gabriel, they reached March 29, the
first rancheria on the Santa Barbara channel, that village which had been called
Asuncion in 1769 by Portola's party, and which had been selected long since as a
suitable site for a mission. Here, near the beach, and in close vicinity to the
native huts of straw and tule, shaped in conical fashion, the cross was duly
raised beneath its arbor-like shelter, and, on the 31st, the mission was
formally founded and dedicated to the "seraphic doctor," Giovanni di Fidanza.
Padre Junipero Serra himself it was who preached the dedicatory sermon. There
were present many natives, who expressed much pleasure in the establishment of
the mission, to the building of whose edifices they cheerfully lent their labors.

  The facilities here were good for irrigation, also for procuring good building
material. By April 12 of that year, there had been completed an enclosure of 40
x 50 varas (a vara is 33 1/3 inches) of palisades four varas high, having two
ravelins, a gate and a small warehouse.

  Padre Cambon remained until May in charge of the new mission; then Padre
Francisco Dumetz and Padre Vicente de Santa Maria arrived there as regular
ministers. Notwithstanding the cordiality of the natives, only two adults
received the rite of baptism during 1782.

  The first marriage ceremony performed at the mission church was that of Maria
Concepcion Martiel, of Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, and Alejandro Sotomayor of
Fuerte, Mexico, Padre Dumetz officiating, on August 8, 1782. The first baptism
was that of Jose Cresencio Valdez, son of Eugenio Valdez Espanol, on April 27,
1782.

  About the middle of April, leaving a sergeant and fourteen men as a guard at
the newly founded mission, the governor and the president with the rest of the
party journeyed on up the coast to establish the presidio of Santa Barbara.

  The site chosen was probably that which Portola's expedition of 1769 had
called Laguna de la Concepcion. Here work was begun at once, and on April 21,
Padre Serra formally established the fort, with the saying of mass and the
chanting of an alabado (a hymn of praise; a Te Deum). The fort was constructed
on an eminence, near some springs and a lagoon. The palisades were of oak from
the neighboring timber, and the first enclosure was sixty varas square. This
stockade was replaced later by a solid wall, around an area eighty yards square.
The natives were friendly, and their labors here were repaid with food and
clothing. The chieftain of the native town here had authority over no less than
thirteen rancherias, and his support was of great value to the settlers. So
favorably did matters progress here, that soon irrigation works were
constructed, and farming was begun on a small scale.

  The founding of a mission here was long postponed, owing to the enmity of the
secular authorities toward the friars; but at last, 1786, more than two years
after the death of the devoted Padre Junipero, the president with two friars of
recent arrival went to the presidio and made preparations for the formal
founding of the mission, the tenth to be established in Alta California. Thus,
on December 4, 1786, the cross was raised and blessed, and the mission dedicated
to Saint Barbara, Virgin and Martyr, the patroness of artillerymen in the
Spanish army. The ceremonies were not completed at this time, as Fages, the
governor, was absent, and he had ordered operations to be suspended until his
arrival. If he had meant to impede the proceedings of the clergy here, he
appeared to think better of it upon reflection, and, after his arrival, the
first mass was said by Padre Paterna, a sermon was preached by Lasuen, and thus
was completed the founding of la Mision de Santa Barbara, Virjen y Martir. The
first baptism was on December 31, and the rite was administered at the presidio,
as the rains prevented the erection of buildings at the mission itself for the
time. However, a church 18 x 90 feet was completed in 1789, and by the end of
1790 there were numerous mission buildings, well built of adobes, and roofed
with tiles. By this time, the number of baptisms here had reached 520, and the
102 deaths left 438 neophytes at that date. At this time, Santa Barbara mission
owned 296 head of large, and 503 head of small, stock, and the agricultural
products amounted to about 1,500 bushels.

   Yet the mission had poor resources, and owing to this lack of means to
support the Indians, only voluntary converts were admitted at first

  The formal founding of the third of the channel missions took place on
December 8, 1787, this day being selected as being that dedicated to "Our Lady
of the Immaculate Conception." This because it had been determined to consecrate
this new mission to that service, and it was accordingly called "de la Purisima
Concepcion." The mere act of founding accomplished, this mission was left alone
until March, 1788, when a detachment returned thither to prepare buildings. By
August, 1788, there had been enrolled seventy-nine neophytes. The site of this
mission was changed somewhat later, as will be shown.

  There were in the Purisima district over fifty rancherias, or Indian villages.

  At this time, the white population of Santa Barbara presidial district was
about 220, or, 360, including Los Angeles. The natives were employed as hired
laborers, and they did their work well. The neophytes of this entire district,
including San Gabriel and San Fernando, numbered at this period nearly 4,000.

  The presidio had eight guns, all but one of brass, from one to six pounds of
caliber. Half of these were distributed among the missions, but they were not in
use, as there was no hostility among the Indians, and the foreign disturber as
yet appeared not.

  At San Buenaventura, Padres Dumetz and Santa Maria had continued as ministers
throughout this decade; and so zealous were they that the lukewarmness of the
Indians was overcome, so that the neophytes increased from twenty-two to 388
within this period, besides 115 who died as converts. The large stock had now
increased from 103 to 961, the small stock from forty-four to 1,503; and the
crops for 1790 were over 3,000 bushels. The natives hereabouts continued
friendly; but, in view of the great number of them, it was deemed prudent to
maintain here a larger guard than at the other missions. However, this "large
guard" would seem to have been absurdly inadequate to hold in check the hordes
of Indians, had they chosen to be hostile, for the force numbered now fifteen,
and now only ten men.

  On November 10, 1793, Vancouver anchored at Santa Barbara, where he was
courteously received by the commandant, Goycoechea,and hospitably entertained by
the padres, who saw the importance of a favorable impression to be made upon
visiting foreigners. The Englishman pronounced the appearance of the place "far
more civilized than any other of the Spanish establishments,* * * the buildings
regular and well constructed, the walls clean and white, and the roofs of the
houses covered with a bright red tile." "The presidio," he wrote, "excels all
the others in neatness, cleanliness, and other smaller though essential
comforts; it is placed on an elevated part of the plain, and is raised some feet
from the ground by a basement story which adds much to its pleasantness." "When
Vancouver sailed on the 18th for San Buenaventura, he carried a passenger—Padre
Santa Maria, who took that opportunity of making a visit to the neighboring
mission, at the same time that he combated, by the force of his own experience,
the prejudice and fears of the Indians, as against foreigners. The padres were
very hospitable and courteous, toward this traveler.

  Padre Antonio Paterna, the founder, and a pioneer of 1771, died in 1793, at
Santa Barbara mission.

  On January 10, 1794, took place the first public execution, when Ygnacio
Rochin paid the penalty for murder. Death was inflicted upon him by shooting,
there being no hangman in the province.

  The English merchant ship Phoenix touched here in August, 1795. Communication
with the outside world had now begun to increase with each succeeding year.

  In February, 1798, died Captain Jose Ortega, former commandant of Santa Barbara.

  During this decade the number of neophytes increased from 438 to 864. Horses
and cattle had multiplied from 296 to 2,492, and sheep from 503 to 5,615. The
crops in 1800 were 3,000 bushels, although the crop three years earlier was
5,400 bushels. During this period many improvements in building had been made at
the mission. In 1791 were added three tool houses and a guard-house; in 1792,
two large stone corrals. In 1793-'94 was erected a new church, built of adobes
and plastered, with tiled roof; its ground space was 28x135 feet, and it had a
brick portico, and a sacristy 15 x 28 feet. In 1794 were built a granary and a
spinning room, set on stone foundations; also an enclosure 48 x 135 feet, for a
cemetery; also a sheepfold. In 1797 a corridor with brick pillars and tile roof
was added, on the side of the quadrangle nearest to the presidio, and another
alongside the spinning room; four new rooms were completed for the friars; and
beams of pine were placed wherever alder and poplar had been used for that
purpose. In 1797 were completed several rooms for granaries, store-rooms, and
offices. In 1799 were built for the neophytes nineteen adobe houses, each 12 x
19 feet, plastered, whitewashed, and tile-roofed; also an adobe wall nine feet
high was carried 1,200 yards around the garden and vineyard, and a warehouse was
built. In 1800 were built thirty-one more adobe houses in a row, the three
remaining sides of the square were completed, and measures were taken for the
construction, from brick and mortar and stone} of a reservoir for drinking
water. In 1800 sixty neophytes were engaged in weaving and its attendant
processes. Others were taught carpentry, and others tanning.

  The same priests remained in charge of San Buenaventura until 1797, when Padre
Dumetz was succeeded by Padre Jose Francisco de Paula Senan. The only notable
event of this decade would seem to have been a fracas between the Christian
Indians and the unconverted, in which the former, while they had several men
wounded, were victorious, killing two chiefs of the pagans, and taking six or
seven captives. The authorities punished impartially the leaders on both sides,
one of the neophytes being put to labor in irons.

  By this time, although, there had been 412 burials among the converts, the
number of neophytes had increased to 715; and, although the population here was
less than at any other of the older missions, San Buenaventura in 1800 had more
cattle and raised more grain than any other place in California. There were
10,013 head of cattle and horses, and 4,622 sheep; and the crop of 1800 was
9,400 bushels, the smallest crop being 1,500 bushels in 1797, while the average
yield was 4,800 bushels. Wheat was little grown until 1798, when this became the
chief crop, reaching over 8,000 bushels per year.

  The buildings here were superior in construction, having been rebuilt after
the old ones had been swept away by fire. The church alone, of the mission
quadrangle, was not complete. It was begun about 1793, and completed during the
decade, being built of stone. Vancouver, who landed here November 20, 1793,
pronounced this mission of "a very superior style to any of the new
establishments yet seen." "The garden of Buena Ventura far exceeded," he wrote,
"anything I had before  met with in these regions, both in respect of the
quality, quantity, and variety of its excellent productions, not only indigenous
to the country, but appertaining to the temperate as well as the torrid zone;
not one species having yet been planted or sown that had not flourished. These
have principally consisted of apples, pears, plums [sic], figs, oranges, grapes,
peaches and pomegranates, together with the plantain, banana, cocoa-nut,
sugar-cane, indigo, and a great variety of the necessary and useful kitchen
herbs, plants and roots. All these were flourishing in the greatest health and
perfection, though separated from the seaside only by two or three fields of
corn, that were cultivated within a few yards of the surf."

  San Luis Obispo reached its maximum of population, 946, in 1794, but it had,
in 1800, the considerable number of 726, from 605 in 1790. At this date, the
cattle and horses had increased to 6,500 head, and sheep to 6,150. There were
raised this year 2,700, bushels of grain, the average number being 3,200, while
in 1798 the harvest was 4,100 bushels. This mission raised no barley.

  During this decade had been completed an adobe church, with portico and tile
roof, a house for the ministers, a guard-house, workroom, and barrack, and a
mill run by water-power. The huts of the natives there were well built.

  This mission was fortunate in receiving a miller, blacksmith, and carpenter,
sent hither to impart instruction.

  In 1794 there was at San Luis a certain excitement, resulting from the efforts
of several gentile chiefs to incite a revolt among the Indians hereabouts. Those
at Purisima were approached by agents of the malcontents, but the neophytes
scorned the presents offered for the purpose and were so loyal to the Spaniards
that five of the unruly Indians were delivered over for punishment.

  For a long time there had been entertained by the authorities of the church a
project to found a series of new missions to lie between the old ones, and as
nearly as might be equidistant from each two of them, all of these to be
situated somewhat farther inland than those of the original chain. Practically,
the sites had been chosen by the friars; but for form's sake, the priests made,
in 1794-'95, an exploration, in conjunction with the military. After this, and
some preliminary correspondence, the five new missions were organized.

  On June 11, 1797, was founded San Jose; on June 24 San Juan Bautista, and on
July 25, San Miguel, being the third of the new missions, and the only one with
which we have to deal in the present chapters on this section.

  San Miguel was founded by Padre Lasuen and Friar Buenaventura Sitjar, on a
site which the natives called Vahia or Vatica, and the Spaniards Las Posas. It
was between San Luis Obispo and San Antonio, Padres Sitjar and Horra, generally
called Padre Concepcion, were appointed ministers. The founding was attended by
a great number of Indians, fifteen of whose children were presented for baptism
on that day; and this good disposition seemed to continue, for by the end of
1800 there had been baptized 385. The other missions had contributed a few head
of stock, which by the end of the decade had increased to 372 large and 1,582
small animals. The total product of crops for these three years was 3,700
bushels. The church was built of wood, with a mud roof, and it continued in use
for some years.

  In 1801 the safety of the whites of Santa Barbara was jeopardized, from a
singular cause. An epidemic of lung disease had been causing great mortality
among the Indians, when a neophyte claimed to have seen in a dream or trance,
Chupu, the deity of the channel natives, who announced that all the baptized
Indians would fall victims to the evil unless they would renounce Christianity
and perform certain rites to Chupu. The natives of most of the channel
rancherias hastened to comply, while the padres remained in ignorance of the
movement; and it is not quite clear what withheld the fanatics from proceeding
to attack the Spaniards.

  On September 17, 1804, was founded the nineteenth of the Alta California
Missions, dedicated to Santa Ynes (Saint Agnes), Virgin and Martyr. As far back
as 1795 the Spaniards had made explorations for a mission site here. The spot
chosen was called by the Indians Alajulapu (rincon, a corner or nook). Mission
work here was begun with the baptism of twenty-seven children, and the enrolling
of many catechumens, among them three captains or chiefs. By the end of the year
Santa Ynes had 225 neophytes, but at least half of them came from other
missions. The church here was a very poor one in this decade. The crops here
averaged 2,700 bushels yearly, and by 1810 the live stock numbered 3,200 cattle,
420 horses, 61 mules, 11 asses, and 2,300 sheep.

  At this time was agitated the question of founding a mission on one of the
Channel Islands, but an epidemic of measles carried off over 200 of the natives,
and the president had to admit, moreover, that the facilities of lands and the
water supply were unfavorable to the project.

  At Santa Barbara, during each year from 1801 to 1805, from thirty to fifty
adobe dwellings for the neophytes were built, and their numbers reached 234,
they being enclosed on three sides by an adobe wall, constructed in 1802. Other
erections of this period were three large warehouses, a major-domo's house, a
tannery, and several other buildings, one of which was 120 feet long. Meanwhile,
at the Indian rancheria of Mescaltitlan, by the Spaniards called San Miguel, six
miles from Santa Barbara, there had been built an adobe chapel, 66x27 feet, a
stone prison building, a reservoir of masonry, a fountain, arranged .with
washing places for the laundresses, a pottery, and more than a score of
adobe-built dwelling houses.

  In 1805-'6, the presidial company at Santa Barbara was increased from
fifty-nine to sixty men by the process of recruiting, and there were thirty-five
invalided soldiers, mostly living at the presidio. The total white population,
including Santa Barbara, San Buenaventura, Purisima, Santa Ynes, San Fernando,
San Gabriel, Los Angeles and the ranchos (all these points were under the
military jurisdiction of Santa Barbara presidio) was 825, having gained 150
during the decade. Without Los Angeles and the ranchos, there had been an
increase to 460 from 390.

  The greatest number of neophytes at San Luis Obispo, 854, was reached in 1803,
but by the end of the decade it had declined to 713. Although the smallest of
the old missions, excepting San Carlos, this was far above the average in the
production of livestock. Its agricultural results were less satisfactory. The
friars there were somewhat noted for their discouraging treatment of foreign
vessels.

  At San Miguel, this period was characterized by the death of Padre Pnjol, and
the violent illness of two other priests, all sup-supposed [sic] to have been
poisoned by the neophytes. There was also some trouble over the defiant attitude
of Cuchapa, one of the Indian captains, who was, however, subdued by judicious
treatment.

  A great loss was sustained at San Miguel in 1806, in a fire which destroyed
that portion of the mission buildings used for manufacturing purposes, with the
implements and a large quantity of raw material, including wool, hides, cloths,
and 6,000 bushels of wheat.

  In population San Miguel grew from 362 to 973, the greatest gain of the
decade, except at San Luis Rey and San Fernando. Its death rate was only
forty-nine per cent, of the baptisms. This had more sheep than any other mission
save San Juan Capistrano.

  The chapel at Santa Barbara presidio had its walls badly injured by an
earthquake in March, 1806, and just two months later, the edifice was almost
totally destroyed by a great storm.

  At intervals through this decade, no little local excitement was wrought up
over three criminal cases of a repulsive nature, and by a case of alleged
blasphemy.

  The channel was visited during this period by the Hazard, the Lelia Byrd, the
O'Cain, and the Albatross. There were in this presidial jurisdiction, which
included San Gabriel, 6,500 neophytes (round numbers), the gain over the
previous decade being 2,500.

  By 1810 the numerical decline of the neophyte population had begun; although
there was an actual increase from 864 to 1,355, this was a considerable drop
from 1,792, the figure which had been reached in 1803. Santa Barbara by this
time led all the other missions in the whole number of baptisms for the decade,
and in the highest number for one year. The large stock of this mission had
increased from 2,492 to 5,670; there were 1,390 horses and mules in 1810. The
small stock increased from 5,615 to 8,190. The average crop for the decade was
of 6,216 bushels per year; at one time there were produced 10,150 bushels.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 
OF THE COUNTIES OF
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California

Illustrated

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Prospective Future; with Profuse illustrations of its Beautiful Scenery,
Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and
Biographical Mention of  many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of
to-day,

BY MRS. YDA ADDIS STORKE.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors -will
never achieve anything worthy to he remembered with pride by remote
descendants."—Macaulay.

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1891.

Barlow-Sinclair Printing Co., Chicago.


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